Dismantlable pegged target



Jan. 14, 1969 L, PARADISE 3,421,762

DISMANTLABLE PEGGED TARGET Filed March 1. 1966 ATTORNEYS.

'HJVENTOR. M055 z. FAB/I005 United States Patent 3,421,762 DISMANTLABLE PEGGED TARGET Mose L. Paradise, 615 E. 2nd St., Ladysmith, Wis. 54848 Filed Mar. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 530,941 U.S. Cl. 273-104 Int. Cl. A63b 9/00; A47f /06; A47g 29/00 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to games, and more particularly to a'ring toss game whereby the player will cast a loop at an object having a plurality of prongs, the scoring being determined by the particular prongs on which the ring comes to rest.

As conducive to an understanding of the instant invention, it should be pointed out that ring toss games are known in the art and generally comprise an upstanding post secured to a base with at least one prong extending outwardly from the post. When a plurality of outwardly extending prongs are used, the ring game requires an inordinately large storage space. In addition, the ring toss games of the prior art generally have a set number of prongs which are permanently positioned in the fixed locations rendering the game relatively inflexible in use.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a ring toss game which may be readily disassembled and stored in a flat box thereby minimizing the storage space required.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a ring toss game in which a plurality of prongs may be selectively fixed at various locations on the upstanding post.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a ring toss game in which a plurality of collars are used with the collars being slidably mounted over the post and selectively secured thereto at varying heights to lend a degree of flexibility to the game of the instant invention.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a ring toss game of the character described in which the collars provide a plurality of prong assemblies for releasably receiving a plurality of prongs such that the individual may vary the number of prongs per collar to lend another degree of flexibility to the game.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a ring which may be used with the remainder of the game of the instant invention, the ring being assembled from readily available components in a rapid and efficient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction, all as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

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In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the assembled ring toss game of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the game of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along lines 2-2 thereof as viewed in the direction of the arrows illustrating the uppermost collar and series of prongs;

FIGURE 3 is another horizontal cross-sectional view of the ring toss game of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 33 thereof as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows illustrating the intermediate collar and series of prongs;

FIGURE 4 is still another horizontal cross-sectional view of the ring toss game of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 44 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows illustrating the construction of the post supporting base;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ring toss game of the instant invention taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of the ring utilized in the ring toss game of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, the ring toss game of the instant invention is illustrated generally at 10 and has as its major components a supporting base shown generally at 12, an upstanding post shown generally at 14, and a plurality of prong assemblies shown generally at 16 spaced along the upstanding length of post 14.

As will become more fully apparent hereinafter, a player will select one of a plurality of prongs shown generally at 18, stand a predetermined distance from game 10 and throw ring 18 in an attempt to loop it about one of prongs 20 upon assembly 16. In order to properly compute the scores of the various players, prongs 20 will be painted of different colors such that uppermost prong assembly 16 designates the greatest number of points with intermediate and lowermost prong assemblies 16 registering the least number of points of a player upon success fully looping ring 16 about one of the prongs thereof. Because of the adjustable and removable nature of prong assembly 16, it wil be seen that the individual may lend a degree of flexibility to the game by placing the higher valued prong assembly elsewhere on post 14.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4, base 12 includes a substantially square supporting flat plate 22 resting on a table top or the like 24 with plate 22 forming a geometrically centered aperture 26 receiving the lower end of post 14 and holding it in an upright position. Plate 22 is preferably made of a heavy plastic or metal in order to provide a stable condition for post 14.

Post 14 is illustrated as a substantially cylindrical member 28, which can be made of plastic or the like having a rounded upperv end 30, which may also be designed as a scoring prong, with a plurality of vertically spaced passages 32 being formed along the length of cylindrical member 28. In order to selectively position prong assemblies 16 in a desired location, a small peg 34 may be positioned in selected ones of passages 32 as may be seen in FIGURE 5 to support prong assembly 16.

Prong assemblies 16 include a sleeve or collar shown generally at 36 forming a centrally disposed circular aperture 38 slidably receiving post 14, an upper segment 40 of reduced diameter, a lower segment 42 of larger diameter and a substantially flat bottom 44 supported on peg 34 as may be seen in FIGURE 5. Sleeve 36 forms a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined openings 46 located at the junction of upper and lower segments 40, 42. It should be noted that the inner end 48 of prong 20 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof thus preventing complete contact between prong 20 and lower segment 42. It is for this reason that lower segment 42 is larger than upper segment 40 such that a sufficient bearing area can be ceated without using unneeded material on upper segment 42 thereby lessening the weight of prong assemblies 16 and reducing the cost thereof.

It will be evident that ring toss game may be dismantled upon the completion of the game by removing prongs 20 from prong assemblies 16, by sequentially sliding sleeves 36 upwardly over the end of post 14 and removing pegs 34 and finally by extracting post 14 from base 12. The components may be placed in a box and conveniently stored in a space of a minimum size. While the prong assemblies 16 are illustrated as having a maximum of six prongs, it should be understood that any number of inclined apertures 38 may be provided with selected prongs 20 being removed to provide a lesser number of targets for the individual player. Similarly, it should be evident that prong assemblies 16 may be spaced at any desired distance from the base assembly by using appropriate passages 32.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, ring 18 is of toroidal configuration and includes a flexible tube 50, of a suitable plastic material such as Tygon obtained from the U.S. Stoneware Company, and a plug 52 securing the ends of tube 50 together. Plug 52 has a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of tube 50 and is forced into one end thereof until one terminus 54 of tube 50 resides approximately at the midpoint of plug 52. Tube 50 is then reverted with the other terminal edge 56 being inserted over plug 52 until edges 54, 56 are spaced close together. It will be evident that plug 50 may be quickly an inexpensively made from materials that are readily available in the marketplace.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved ring toss game which accomplishes all of the objects of the instant invention and other, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A game in which a plurality of closed rings are provided to be thrown at a target and wherein said target comprises:

a supporting base;

a post upstanding from said base, said post having a plurality of vertically spaced radial passages formed therein;

a plurality of pegs for selective engagement within one of said passages and having an end projecting outwardly therefrom;

a plurality of sleeves mounted for slidable movement axially of said post, each said sleeve having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly and outwardly inclined openings formed therein, each of said sleeves having an upper segment of a first diameter and a lower segment of a second diameter, said openings being disposed substantially at the junction of said first and second segments, said lower segment being engageable with one of said pegs with the latter holding its associated sleeve in a predetermined adjusted position relative to the longitudinal axis of said post; and

a plurality of prongs slidably and releasably mounted in preselected ones of said openings, said prongs having portions thereof engaging said second segment to receive additional bearing support therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1937 Stakton 273-100 4/1937 String 273--100 9/1967 Brandley 27326 264,415 1/1927 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

d 2l1176; 248-l25, 221 

